Soloist Biographies
Alfonse Anderson, Tenor
Dr. Alfonse Anderson, Vocal Area Coordinator and Associate Professor
of Voice at University of Nevada Las Vegas received his bachelor and
master's degrees in music from Texas Southern University, and DMA in
voice and pedagogy from the University of Arizona.
He has taught voice for over 15 years and in that time his students
have won regional, national and international vocal competitions with
such notable organizations as the Bel Canto Competition, MET Opera,
NATS, Leontyne Price, Palm Spring Vocal Competition to name a few. Many
of his students have performed in Young Artist Programs such as the
internationally famous Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, Chautaugua
Opera, Opera Theater of St. Louis, Aspen Music Festival, Des Moines
Opera, Opera North and Portland Opera.
Dr. Anderson has performed in the United States with such notable organizations
as the Houston Grand Opera, Arizona Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Minnesota
Opera, Oakland Opera, Virginia Opera, Opera South, Opera Columbus, Opera
North and Chicago Opera Theater.
Dr. Anderson has performed in concerts with the National Symphony Orchestra,
Chautauqua Symphony, Warsaw Symphony and Krakow Symphony. He also performs
frequently in recitals and concerts in many major cities such as Washington,
D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, Chicago and New York City to name a few.
Dr. Anderson has also performed throughout Europe, South America and
Poland in concerts and operatic performances.
Dr. Anderson performed the role of "the Leader" in the premier
recording of the opera Bandanna by Daron Hagen. In Las Vegas he is regularly
heard singing with Opera Las Vegas and The Tenors - 3. Dr. Anderson
is a regular member of the internationally famous "American Spiritual
Ensemble". This recorded ensemble is made up of opera singers from
throughout the United States and Canada. They perform concerts regularly
throughout United States and Europe. Dr. Anderson is frequently engaged
as an adjudicator for regional and national competitions. He also performs
recitals, masterclasses and lectures on the "Contributions of African-Americans
to the World of Music." RETURN
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Sonya Gabrielle Baker, Soprano
Soprano, Sonya Gabrielle Baker, noted for her performances of American
music, has been heard in concert both nationally and internationally,
including recent appearances in Canterbury Cathedral, England, Carnegie
Hall, NY and her city of residence, Murray, KY. Her debut recording,
SHE SAYS, featuring art songs of American Women composers was released
in October 2004. Dr. Baker made her Carnegie Hall debut with renowned
conductor Michael Tilson Thomas and she appeared as soloist on the Yale
Alumni Chorus tour to Moscow singing at the Kremlin. Highlights of Dr.
Baker's operatic roles include Elisabetta in Verdi's DON CARLO, Donna
Anna in Mozart's DON GIOVANNI, Monisha in Joplin's TREEMONISHA, and
the title role in the U.S. premiere of Mascagni's PINOTTA. Dr. Baker
is currently Associate Professor of Voice at Murray State University
and Kentucky State Governor for the National Association of Teachers
of Singing. Along with a Doctor of Music from Florida State University,
Baker holds degrees from Indiana and Yale universities. Her lecture
recital on Marian Anderson's historic 1939 Easter Concert has been presented
at several universities, high schools, and conferences. She has received
numerous academic and vocal awards and is a frequent guest artist and
teacher, having taught at Governor's school programs in both Kentucky
and Virginia. RETURN TO TOP
Thomas R. Beard, Jr., Baritone
Thomas R. Beard, Jr. (Lyric–dramatic Baritone) from Fayetteville,
North Carolina, now resides in Washington, DC. Thomas recently completed
2 years as a resident artist with the Placido Domingo-Cafritz Young
Artist Program of the Washington National Opera. Thomas along with 8
other young artist where chosen from 6 nations personally by Placido
Domingo. Thomas was the first, and thusfar the only, African-American
male be a full member. Thomas received his Bachelors of Science Degree
from Winston-Salem State University where he began his formal vocal
training with D'Walla Simmons-Burke. Thomas has performed as the bass/baritone
in such oratorios as Handel's Messiah, Verdi Requiem, Faure' requiem,
the Ordering of Moses (Detts), Magnificant (Pergolesi), and the seven
last words of Christ (Dubois). Thomas made is Operatic Debut as "Bonzo"
in the Muncipal Opera company of Baltimore's Madame Butterfly (1999).
Since then, he has appeared with Various Companies as Marcello in La
boheme, Papageno in The Magic Flute, Escamillo in Carmen, the title
role in Gianni Schicchi, Conte di Luna in concert excerpts of Il Trovatore,
and Crown, Porgy, and Jake in excerpts from Porgy & Bess. A member
of The Washington Opera, he has performed with the Company over 90 times,
including its recent Tour of Japan. Thomas most recently made his Pittsburgh
Opera Theatre debut in their recent World Premier of the Jazzopera,
"Just Above My Head" and debuted with the International Opera
of Rome as Colline (La boheme) and Il Commendatore (Don Giovanni). In
November of 2002 Thomas made his John F. Kennedy Center debut as Corporal
Morrel in Carmen Jones starring Vanessa Williams and conducted by Placido
Domingo. He also recently performed his debut of Giorgio Germont in
the Washington National Opera's Domingo-Cafritz program's performance
of La Traviata directed by Marta Domingo. Thomas more recently performed
the title role of "Rigoletto" and just completed the 2006
Australian/New Zealand tour of Porgy & Bess singing the title Role
"Porgy". While at the Washington National Opera, Thomas has
covered/understudied the roles of Gerard & Mathieu in Giordano's
Andrea Chenier, and Count di Luna in Il Trovatore. In January, 2005
he covered the role of Senator Raitcliffe in the World premier of Democracy
by Scott Wheeler and understudied the role of Scarpia in Puccini's Tosca.
As a member of the Domingo-Cafritz program, Thomas has performed for
several Senators at the senate, Secretary of State, Governors and the
like. More importantly, He has performed for the First Lady Laura Bush
as a guest at the White House. RETURN
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Angela Brown, Soprano
"One of America's most promising Verdi sopranos (Opera News),"
Angela M. Brown brandishes pure vocal power and finesse and has won
the acclaim of critics and audiences. The roles of Aida, Amelia, Tosca,
Elisabetta, Leonora, Ariadne, and the like, are the perfect conduits
for her musical abilities, described by one PBS radio critic as "her
powerful voice and what seems an inexhaustible palette of varied colors."
Miss Brown sang her Metropolitan Opera debut on October 29, 2004, in
the title role of Aida and The New York Times exclaimed: "At last
an Aida." Anne Midgette went on to call the performance "a
major event" and a CBS News segment crowned her "the future
of opera." Ms. Brown was immediately featured on the front page
of The New York Times in a personal interview, complete with photos.
Following her triumph, Angela was also featured in Oprah Magazine, Essence,
Ebony, Reader's Digest, and Psychology Today.
Since that time, Miss Brown has continued to live up to her overwhelming
critical acclaim. Her most recent Aida with Florentine Opera left this
impression with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "Brown can sing
at that super-grand Verdian scale and still shape phrases and color
notes with detailed expressive subtlety. She sings Verdi the way other
good sopranos can sing Mozart. Hardly anyone can manage that, and that
is why Angela Brown is the Aida of the moment in the whole opera world."
2006-2007 performances include Aida for Florida Grand Opera to open
the new Dolores Ziff Ballet Opera House, Bess (Porgy and Bess) for Opera
Pacific and Opera Company of Philadelphia, and her Paris Opera debut
as Amelia (Un Ballo in Maschera). Look for her return to the Metropolitan
Opera as Aida in the fall of 2007 and as Amelia (Un Ballo in Maschera)
in 2008.
This past season she sang Amelia in Un Ballo in Maschera and Cilla
in Margaret Garner both for Opera Company of Philadelphia, the title
role in Aida for Opera Pacific and Florentine Opera, Verdi Requiem for
the Festival of Saint Denis, France, concerts with the Indianapolis
Symphony and Brevard Festival Orchestra, and recitals throughout the
United States.
In 2004-2005, Miss Brown sang the role of Aida for Opera Company of
Philadelphia and followed that with the world premiere of Margaret Garner,
a new opera by Richard Danielpour and Toni Morrison, in the role of
Cilla for Michigan Opera Theatre and Cincinnati Opera. She also appeared
as guest soloist in a concert of opera arias for Auckland Philharmonia
(New Zealand) and Dayton Opera. A recording, titled Mosaic, of African-American
spirituals featuring Ms. Brown with guitar and piano accompaniment was
released in October 2004 from Albany Records.
The 2003-2004 season encompassed four highly successful and critically
acclaimed role debuts as Ariadne, Elisabetta (Don Carlo) and Lenora
(Il Trovatore) for Opera Company of Philadelphia and Cassandra in Taneyev's
Agamemnon for her Carnegie Hall debut. Her Ariadne received this review
from Opera Now: "In one of those dramatic twists that are the stuff
of opera, the soprano covering the title role in ARIADNE AUF NAXOS at
the Metropolitan Opera got her chance to sing it -- at the Opera Company
of Philadelphia. The young American soprano Angela Brown took over one
performance...She (Ms. Brown) has a powerhouse of an instrument, shimmering
with colour and imaginatively used, and she knows how to take centre-stage."
Her Elisabetta received this praise from The New York Times: "Angela
Brown, a soprano, brought dignity and shimmering pianos, and hit a bull's-eye
with her final aria," Opera News: "Angela Brown revealed herself
as a soprano to watch. Brown displayed good command of Verdi style,
imaginative phrasing and a warm, expressive voice," and Opera Now:
"Angela Brown's beautiful lyric soprano voice was ideal for Elisabetta.
She floated pianissimos that seemed to hang in space, shimmering, and
she had plenty of power for her last big scene."
Her performance in the American premiere of Tanayev's Agamemnon was
honored, again, by The New York Times reporting that the role of Cassandra
was: "performed by Angela Brown with an opulent soprano tone and
a fine tragic sense."
A 1997 National Metropolitan Opera Council Auditions Winner, Ms. Brown's
previous solo appearances include: Teatro La Fenice, Opera Company of
Philadelphia, Cincinnati Opera, Indianapolis Opera, Michigan Opera Theatre,
Tulsa Philharmonic, Long Island Philharmonic, Auckland Philharmonia,
Indianapolis Symphony, Cincinnati Pops, Brevard Festival Orchestra,
Roanoke Symphony, El Paso Symphony, Knoxville Symphony, Hendersonville
Symphony, Chautauqua Institution, the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia
and the Kennedy Center's 25th Anniversary Celebration. Ms. Brown has
performed in recital throughout the United States, Canada, New Zealand
and Africa.
Ms. Brown received her Bachelor of Music degree in voice from Oakwood
College in Huntsville, Alabama, where she studied with Ginger Beazley.
She also attended the School of Music at Indiana University as a student
in the studio of Virginia Zeani. RETURN
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Janinah Burnett
Janinah Burnett encompasses a versatility which allows her to cross
between classical, jazz and pop styles. Her performances in the World
Premier of the sister group to Three Mo' Tenors entitled Three Mo' Divas
was rated a "must see show" by the Art's Alive entertainment
news of San Diego. A recent graduate of the Eastman School of Music
and Spelman College, Janinah's success as Mimí in Baz Luhrman's
production of Puccini's La Bohème in Los Angeles at the Ahmanson
Theater won her the prestigious 2005 Ovation award. She was with Lurhman
since the inception of the show in San Francisco and throughout the
Broadway run. She can be heard on the Original Cast recording as well
as seen on the 2004 Tony awards. Since Janinah's Broadway debut, she
has made solo performances with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, as Pamina
in W.A. Mozart's Die Zauberflöte with the Opera Company of Brooklyn
and international performances in Austria, Sweden, Japan, Italy, Denmark,
and Germany in the Gershwins'Porgy and Bess singing Clara and Bess.
Last fall, Janinah sang Mimí in La Bohème with Manitoba
Opera in Winnipeg, Canada and in the Montreal Opera annual Gala. This
year, Janinah sang Micaela in the Peter Brook adaptation of Bizet's
Carmen with the Skylight Opera Theater which she later reprised at the
Todi Music Festival during the summer. She also sang Lauretta in Puccini's
Gianni Schicchi with Connecticut Opera, Mimí in La Bohème
with Baltimore Opera, Violetta in Columbus Opera's production of LaTraviata
and Bess in Michigan Opera Theater's production of Porgy and Bess. In
2007, Janinah looks forward to singing Norina in Don Pasquale with Connecticut
Opera and Violetta in a concert version of La Traviata with the Quad
City Symphony. RETURN TO TOP
Jeryl Cunningham, Soprano
Jeryl Cunningham, a native New Yorker, has performed in Europe, Japan,
and the United States. She made her debut, while still an undergraduate
student, with the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra in a concert version
of Gershwin's Porgy and Bess, and has since then gone on to sing the
roles of Cleopatra (Giulio Cesare) at the Ernen Musikdorf Festival in
Switzerland; Zerlina (Don Giovanni) with the Mannes Opera in New York;
Clara (Porgy and Bess) in Germany, the Netherlands, and Japan; and most
recently, the Mother (Amahl and the Night Visitors), the Flower Woman
(Andre Previn's A Street Car Named Desire), the Countess (Le Nozze di
Figaro), La Fortuna (L'Incoronazione di Poppea), and most recently,
the Queen on the Night (The Magic Flute) with the University of Kentucky
Opera Theater. An artist of great sensitivity, Jeryl Cunningham has
appeared in recital and as a concert soloist in venues that include
the United Nations and New York's Lincoln Center. She has also recorded
Schubert's Mass in G major as soloist with the Boy's Choir of Harlem.
In addition to the classical repertoire, Jeryl is an outstanding interpreter
of traditional music from the rich African-American heritage. She is
a regular soloist with the American Spiritual Ensemble and has toured
with them through out Europe and the United States. She is also an alumna
of the Girls Choir of Harlem. Furthermore, her innovative recital programming
frequently includes works by African-American composers. Jeryl Cunningham
holds a Master of Music from the Mannes College of Music in New York,
and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama.
She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree at the University of Kentucky
under the supervision of Dr. Everett McCorvey. RETURN
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Calesta A. Day, Soprano
Calesta A. Day, Soprano, made her operatic debut as Fiordiligi in Mozart's
Cosi Fan Tutte with Miami University Opera. She has also appeared as
a Slave Chorister in the premier of Margaret Garner with Cincinnati
Opera, Countess Almaviva in The Marriage of Figaro with Miami University
and Bowling Green State University Opera. Calesta performed and premiered
the role of Alice in The Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
with Sinclair Community College Theatre She was Third Spirit in Cendrillon
with Bowling Green State University Opera, guest soloist in Eubie with
Theater Under the Stars, The Angel in The Greatest Gift with Doug Toles
Productions.
A Dayton area performer for years, Calesta has appeared with such groups
as Bobby Jones Gospel, James Cleveland and the Gospel Music Workshop
of America, and with the late Ronald Winans. She also tours in August
to Spain with the American Spiritual Ensemble, directed by Dr. Everett
McCorvey.Calesta is currently serving as Music director of the children's
choir at Wesley United Methodist Church, church pianist at Rising Star
Baptist Church, and part-time voice faculty at Sinclair Community College.
She was the vocal director for the Dayton Playhouse's production of
Five Guys Named Moe and Theater Under the Stars' production of Eubie.
Calesta received the Bachelors degree from Bowling Green State University
in Vocal Performance, the Masters degree in Education with a Music Concentration
from University of Dayton, and the Masters degree in Vocal performance
from Miami University. Calesta is currently studying with Dr. Everett
McCorvey as a first year doctoral student in vocal performance at the
University of Kentucky. RETURN
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Keith Dean, Bass Baritone
Bass Baritone/Keith Deans is from Hardinsburg, Kentucky and is currently
pursuing a degree at the University of Kentucky. His operatic roles
include Blitch in Susanna, Don Alfonso in Cosi fan Tutte by Mozart,
Germont in La Traviata by Verdi, Falke in Die Fledermaus by Strauss
and Pa Moss in The Tender Land by Copland. He recently made his operatic
debut with the Opera Theatre of St. Louis in their production of Treemonisha.
RETURN TO TOP
Roderick George
Roderick George is an Assistant Professor of Music at the University
of Montevallo in Montevallo, AL. A native of Mobile, AL, he earned the
D.M. in voice performance from Florida State University, a M.M. in opera
and music theater from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, and
baccalaureate degrees in music and English from Stillman College. Dr.
George received additional training at the American Institute of Musical
Studies in Graz, Austria. He was a regional finalist in the Metropolitan
Opera Auditions and the NATS Artist Awards, and also a national finalist
in the Orpheus Competition. Recent opera performances included the role
of Rodolfo in La Bohéme with Union Avenue Opera in St. Louis,
and Alfredo in La Traviata with Amarillo Opera. RETURN
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Earl Hazell, Jr., Bass-Baritone
Native New Yorker and Renaissance Man Earl Hazell is a bass-baritone
singer, actor, composer/arranger and author of the forthcoming book
of poetry "They Is Our Women Now," a celebration of the iconic
women performers of the Gershwins' PORGY AND BESS, and the political
thriller screenplay Pandora Jones. A former student of jazz musician/arranger
legends Jimmy Heath and Donald Byrd; the late great Hal deWindt, founder
of the American Theatre of Harlem; and voice teachers Benjamin Matthews,
Wayne Sanders and Drs. Robert White & Everett McCorvey, Earl has
performed with many of the great artists of our time: from Max Roach
and Abbey Lincoln to James Levine and the New York Philharmonic; from
Jessye Norman to Elton John. As a character bass-baritone, along with
Colline of LA BOHEME, Sparafucile of RIGOLETTO, Joe of Jerome Kern's
SHOWBOAT, Booker T. Washington of RAGTIME and several others, Earl continues
to perform the roles of Jake, Jim, Robbins, Lawyer Frazier and the Undertaker
of the Gershwins' PORGY AND BESS as he has throughout the continental
United States, Hawaii, Canada, Western Europe and the Pacific Rim-including
the Royal Albert Hall of London; the Teatro dell' Opera of Rome; and
the Lyric Theatre of Sydney. He has been a proud member of the American
Spiritual Ensemble, with notable performances in the Norton Centre of
Danville, Kentucky and the Escorial of Spain under his mentor Dr. Everett
McCorvey since 1998. RETURN TO
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Lisa Hornung, Contralto
Saskatchewan born contralto Lisa Hornung has been acclaimed for performances
in repertoire ranging from Baroque to contemporary composers. Her voice
has been called "rich and powerful" and her stage presence
has "inspired audiences and musicians alike". Recent engagements
for Ms. Hornung include: Beethoven's Mass in C major, Mozart's Vesperae
solennes de Confessore, Pergolesi's Stabat Mater, Mendelssohn's Elijah,
Vaughn William's Magnificat, Handel's Messiah, the Durufle Requiem and
Ruth Watson-Henderson's From Darkness to Light. Most often heard in
Handel's Messiah, Ms. Hornung's orchestral performances include Verdi's
Requiem, Bach's Magnificat and Christmas Oratorio, Vivaldi's Gloria,
Mahler's Symphony No. 2 and Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen and Mozart's
Coronation Mass and Requiem. In addition to her oratorio and concert
work, Ms. Hornung enjoys an active recital career. Lisa enjoys time
spent as a teacher, adjudicator and clinician. She lives in North Battleford,
Saskatchewan, with her husband and ten-year-old twins. RETURN
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Claritha Buggs Jacobs, Mezzo Soprano
Mezzo Soprano/Claritha Buggs, a native of Detroit, MI, made her professional
operatic debut in 1983 with the Michigan Opera Theatre as Seibel in
Gounod’s Faust. She has performed with Light Opera of Michigan,
Dayton Opera, Detroit Symphony, Santa Barbara Symphony, Kalamazoo Symphony,
Terre Haute Symphony, Dearborn Symphony and the Lexington Philharmonic.
Ms. Buggs received her degrees in voice performance from the University
of Michigan. Among her teachers are Elizabeth Minion, teacher of internationally
acclaimed opera singer Jessye Norman, and coaches George Shirley, Elisabeth
Schwarzkopf, Ely Ambling, and Eleanor Steer. Ms. Buggs is currently
a free-lance artist residing in Tallahassee, Florida. RETURN
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Andreas Kirtley, Tenor
Andreas Kirtley tenor, is a native of Versailles Kentucky. He received
a Bachelor's of Music from Morehead State University in piano performance,
and recently completed a Master's of Music degree in vocal performance
at the University of Kentucky. Some recent performances include the
role of Valletto, in L'incoronatione di Poppea, with The New Trinity
Baroque Ensemble and UK Opera Theatre, as well as the tenor soloist
in the UK Chorale's performances of J.S. Bach's Magnificat, and Carl
Orff's Carmina Burana. This is Andreas' first semester at the University
of North Texas; he is pursuing a Graduate Certificate in Vocal Performance.
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Hope Koehler, Soprano
Dr. Hope Koehler has appeared with many opera companies and orchestras,
such as Nashville Opera, Tennessee Opera Theatre, Blair Opera Theatre,
MTSU Opera Theatre, University Opera Theatre in Tuscaloosa, Alabama,
Northland Opera Theatre Experience, Lyric Opera of the North, Tuscaloosa
Symphony Orchestra, Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra, Lake Superior
Chamber Orchestra, Lexington Symphony Orchestra, and Itasca Symphony
Orchestra. With these companies she has appeared in such productions
as Carmen, Il Trovatore, Lucia di Lammermoor, Rigoletto, The Impressario,
The Old Maid and the Thief, Amahl and the Night Visitors, Gianni Schicchi
and many others. At the Northland Opera Theatre in Duluth, Minnesota,
she has appeared in the title roles of Tosca, Carmen, Fidelio, and Madama
Butterfly. In addition, she has appeared in La Bohème(Musetta),
Der Freischütz(Agathe), The Tales of Hoffmann(Giulietta), and others.
Dr. Koehler's other stage credits include operetta and musical theatre.
She has appeared in such productions as The Mikado, The Sound of Music,
The Pajama Game, Oklahoma, Fiddler on the Roof, and West Side Story.
Dr. Koehler has performed as soloist in oratorio and other choral orchestral
works, such as Handel's Messiah, Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass, Mendelssohn's
Elijah, Verdi's Requiem, Mozart's Vesperae solennes di confessore, Rossini's
Stabat Mater and many others. Dr. Koehler is a regular performer and
featured soloist with the American Spiritual Ensemble, a group that
performs all over the world, and whose mission is to keep the American
Negro Spiritual alive and vibrant. She has also been on the faculty
of the prestigious Kentucky Governor's School for the Arts for six years
and now serves as chair of the vocal music department. In addition,
in July and August of this year she was a member of the voice faculty
at the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria. Dr. Koehler
received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Vocal Performance and Music
Education at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee, and her Master
of Music degree in Vocal Performance at the University of Alabama in
Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Her Doctor of Musical Arts degree was completed
at the University of Kentucky in Lexington where she studied with soprano
Gail Robinson. Currently, she teaches voice and opera at the University
of Wisconsin-Superior. RETURN TO
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Albert Rudolph Lee, Tenor
Albert Rudolph Lee, tenor, (B.M. University of Connecticut, M.M. The
Juilliard School) has appeared with the Opera Theater of Saint Louis,
Palm Beach Opera, Berkshire Opera Company, Kentucky Opera, Connecticut
Concert Opera, Saint Luke's Chamber Orchestra, the Collegiate Chorale
of New York City, the Pro Arts Symphony, the Missouri Symphony, the
New Haven Chorale, Heritage Chorale, Caramoor International Music Festival,
and the Aspen Music Festival. Mr. Lee has performed the title role in
Britten's Albert Herring, Ernesto in Donizetti's Don Pasquale, Count
Almaviva in Rossini's Barber of Seville, Alfredo in Verdi's La Traviata,
Tamino in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte and was a soloist at the University
of Connecticut in a performance of the Mozart Requiem given as a tribute
to the victims of the 9/11 tragedy. He has also worked to preserve and
expand the performance of Negro Spirituals with domestic and international
performances as a soloist in the American Spiritual Ensemble. Mr. Lee
has also collaborated with the late Victor Borge on an adaptation of
Bizet's Carmen. A national finalist in Palm Beach Opera's Vocal Competition,
Encouragement Award recipient in the Meistersinger Competition in Graz,
Austria and Encouragement Award recipient at the Marian Anderson Prize
for Emerging Classical Artists, Mr. Lee's upcoming engagements include
Beppe in I Pagliacci, Lindoro in L'Italiana in Algeri and Goro in Madama
Butterfly this season as a Resident Artist with Palm Beach Opera. RETURN
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Tedrin Blair Lindsay, Pianist
Tedrin Blair Lindsey, pianist and musicologist, was raised in Rome,
Italy and has been a professional accompanist since the age of ten.
He performs well over one hundred recitals annually, boasting a huge
repertoire of vocal and instrumental chamber works, with specialties
in 20th century French and American music. Mr. Lindsay is presently
on the opera faculty at the University of Kentucky, where he works as
vocal coach and musical director. His UK productions have included Aaron
Copland's The Tender Land, Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music,
Gian Carlo Menotti's Amahl and the Night Visitors, Andre Previn's A
Streetcar Named Desire, Rachel Portman's The Little Prince, Rodgers
and Hammerstein's Carousel, and seven incarnations of UK's annual Broadway
revue It's a Grand Night for Singing. Additionally, he played the harpsichord
continuo for UK's Mozart productions, Don Giovanni and Le Nozze di Figaro.
He also teaches the popular course "Introduction to Opera"
for the Lexington Opera Society, and for several years has hosted the
Opera Quiz intermission feature for the Metropolitan Opera Council Auditions
at both the district and regional levels. While in Kentucky, Mr. Lindsay
has collaborated several times with Actors' Guild of Lexington—as
award-winning musical director for Sondheim's Assassins and William
Finn's Falsettos, and as composer of an elaborate score for Angels in
America: Perestroika by Tony Kushner. He also performs throughout Europe
and North America several times a year as pianist with the American
Spiritual Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Everett McCorvey. Mr.
Lindsay has also worked with such New York companies as Bel Canto Opera,
Golden Fleece Opera, Westchester Opera, Rockwell Productions, and the
off-Broadway Lamb's Theatre Company. In the early 1990s, he traveled
as musical director of the first two national tours of Randy Courts
and Mark St. Germain's The Gifts of the Magi, and another national tour
of Roger Miller's Big River. Mr. Lindsay is a Ph.D. candidate in Musicology
at UK, completing a dissertation on the topic of mid-20th century American
opera. He also occasionally appears as an actor, with credits including
the 1978 Bernardo Bertolucci film Luna starring Jill Clayburgh and Matthew
Barry. RETURN TO TOP
Ricky Little, Bass
Dr. Ricky Little is a native of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He attended
Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama where he earned the Bachelor
of Arts degree in Music. As a University Fellow at The Ohio State University,
Dr. Little earned the Master of Arts Degree in Vocal Pedagogy and the
Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Vocal Performance. During this time
he also completed studies in opera performance at the American Institute
of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria.
Dr. Little has been engaged in hundreds of creative productions in
North America, Europe, Asia and South America. He has given more than
one hundred international performances on four continents, which include
eighteen countries and over twenty-five major cities. To date he has
participated in fourteen major professional tours, encompassing over
twenty international music festivals. He has performed in some of the
most prestigious music halls in the world, and before royalty and heads
of states, including former U.S. President Bill Clinton.
His work has been reviewed in national and international newspapers,
and has been aired over the ABC, TBN, KET and BET television networks.
Performances given by Dr Little on the international stage have been
broadcast over radio and television in Italy, Spain, East Germany, Great
Britain, Brazil and other countries in South America. He can be seen
in the film "Impresario" and can be heard on four CD recordings.
Currently Dr. Little holds the position of Associate Professor of Voice
at Morehead State University in Morehead, Kentucky, and is assistant
conductor of The American Spiritual Ensemble. RETURN
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Bradley Williard, bass-baritone,
is a native of North Carolina where he completed his B.M. at the North Carolina School of the Arts. He then went on to obtain his Masters from the Manhattan School of Music. He has performed with Chautauqua Opera, Sarasota Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Kentucky Opera, Pensacola Opera and Piedmont Opera Theatre. Some of his roles include Blitch in Susannah, Tom in Un Ballo in Maschera, Barone in La Traviata, Rev. Hale in The Crucible, Sacristano in Tosca, Dr. Bartolo in Le Nozze di Figaro, Wig Maker in Ariadne auf Naxos, the title role in Don Pasquale, and Rambaldo in La Rondine. Mr. Williard maintains an international career as a soloist and ensemble member of the American Spiritual Ensemble. He has performed at Spain’s Festival Internacional de Santander, which was nationally broadcast, Teatro Principal de Mahon in Menorca and the Castell de Bellver in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. He has had the pleasure of working under the baton of Maestro Eduardo Mueller in Graz, Austria. Mr. Williard also enjoys working as a concert soloist and has been featured with the Virginia Tech Bach Concert Series and Amherst College Concert Series. RETURN
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Kenneth Overton, Baritone
Baritone Kenneth Overton has consistently received accolades for his
rich gleaming voice and his many layered, powerful interpretations.
He recently toured the British Isles as Porgy in Living Arts' Porgy
and Bess, and will perform this role for the first time in North America
with Opera Memphis in 2007. He also makes his debut this season with
Stadttheater Klagenfurt as Jake in Porgy and Bess. He recently sang
his first Escamillo in Carmen with the Missouri Symphony Society, and
he has been heard recently as Leporello in Don Giovanni with Opera Memphis,
Ping in Turandot with Sacramento Opera, Bello in La Fanciulla del West
with Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, as the Bass soloist Beethoven's
9th Symphony with the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, and as the Baritone
soloist in Vaughn Williams' 5 Mystical Songs with the Oratorio Society
of New Jersey. Last season Mr. Overton returned to Connecticut Opera
for Taddeo in L'Italiana in Algeri, and appeared as Sharpless in Madama
Butterfly and Schaunard in La Boheme with Metro Lyric Opera (NJ). He
also appeared as soloist in the Schubert Mass in Ab with the Summit
Chorale Festival (NJ) and last August he traveled to Spain where he
toured with the American Spiritual Ensemble.
Kenneth has also been heard as Leporello in Don Giovanni at Houston
Ebony Opera Guild, Ping in Turandot at Opera Delaware, Schaunard in
La Boheme at Opera Memphis, and Sharpless in Madama Butterfly with the
Chattanooga Symphony & Opera, was in Baz Luhrman's Broadway Boheme,
and City Center Encores' production and recording of New Moon (Romberg),
Masetto in Don Giovanni, Papageno in Die Zauberflöte with Connecticut
Opera, Papageno with Chattanooga Symphony & Opera, Ping in Turandot
with both Nashville Opera and Opera Memphis, and Schaunard in La Boheme
with Connecticut Opera. Kenneth's intelligence and versatility have
allowed him to excel in several modern works including Corps of Discovery
by Michael Ching with Opera Festival of New Jersey ; Six Characters
by Hugo Weisgall, and with New York's Nexus Arts, The Guilded Cage by
Kioulaphides. With the Westfield Symphony Orchestra, Mr. Overtone was
a featured soloist in Fascinatin' Rhythm, a concert of George Gershwin
songs. He made his Carnegie Hall debut as baritone soloist in Come Follow
Me by Jackson Berkey with Mid-America Productions. He was recently the
winner of the Liederkranz Competition and a national winner of the Leontyne
Price Vocal Competition. RETURN
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Andrea Jones-Sojola, Soprano
Andrea Jones-Sojola, is a soprano originally from Louisville, KY. She
is currently touring with the critically acclaimed trio 3 Mo Divas in
cities such as Buffalo, Washington DC and Edmonton, Canada. She has
been seen recently on the stages of Dayton Opera in the roles of Frasquita
in Carmen and Papagena in Die Zauberflöte. Ms. Jones-Sojola performed
in Muhammad Ali: Outside the Ring for Kentucky Opera. She sang the role
of Lonnie (Ali's wife) and had the honor of singing it for the "Champ"
himself.
She has also performed all over Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
She performs in music festivals across Spain as a featured soloist in
concerts with the American Spiritual Ensemble. In Poland, she sang the
role of Clara in Porgy and Bess under the baton of Maestro Mariusz Smolij.
In Italy, she sang Zerlina in Don Giovanni under the baton of Maestro
Mark Gibson. Ms. Jones-Sojola also sang the role of Despina in Cosí
fan tutte in Cairo, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. Other roles
include Fanny in La Cambiale di Matrimonio, Ninetta in La Finta Semplice,
Ms. Honey in Three's Company and Adele in Die Fledermaus, Lauretta in
Gianni Schicchi and Sister Rose in Dead Man Walking.
Ms. Jones-Sojola has participated in several music festivals such as
the Young Artist Program with Cincinnati Opera, Aspen Opera Theater,
Banff 20th Century Opera and Song Program, Opera Theater of Lucca, Italy
and Chautauqua Institute of Music. Most recently she was an Artist-in-Residence
with Dayton Opera. She received her Artist Diploma in Opera from the
University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, her MM in voice
from the University of Kentucky and her BA in voice from Lincoln University.
Competitions include the District Winner of The Metropolitan Opera
National Council Auditions, First Place in the National Opera Association
Voice Competition, First Place in The Pro Arts Society of Philadelphia,
Finalist in The MacAllister Awards Competition, Mathais Winner in The
MacAllister Awards, Finalist in the Palm Beach Atlantic Voice Competition,
Finalist in the National Federation of Music Clubs Voice Competition,
Semi-Finalist in the Palm Beach Opera Competition and Semi-finalist
in the Oratorio Society of New York Competition.
Ms. Jones-Sojola can be heard as Laurie on the Albany recording of
The Tender Land, recorded in the Czech Republic with the Bohuslav Martinu
Philharmonic Orchestra. Her signature piece, "Lord, I Have Seen"
can be heard on the American Spiritual Ensemble CD Ol' Time Religion.
She has recently performed with Morehead University's Symphonic Band,
Bach Choir of Pittsburgh as well as the Riverside Symphonia in New Jersey
and The Paragon Ragtime Orchestra. Future engagements include Handel's
Messiah with Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and a CD recording of the
3 Mo Divas. RETURN TO TOP
Peggy Stamps, Dancer/Stage Director
Peggy Stamps is a native of Detroit, Michigan. Peggy began studying
dance and drama at an early age and has had the opportunity to study
under many world renowned choreographers and acting coaches including
Sara Yarborough and Keith Lee (former soloists with The Alvin Ailey
Dance Company), Robin Wilson (founding member of Urban Bush Women),
Barbara Sullivan (Atlanta Dance Theatre), and Mike Lemmon (casting director,
The Sixth Sense). Peggy has used her training while landing roles in
"Ain't Misbehavin", "A Chorus Line", and as Linda
Loman in "Death of a Salesman". Peggy is also an accomplished
product spokesperson and has appeared on cable networks in the US and
Canada on over 200 occasions. Under the encouragement of her mentors,
Peggy began focusing on choreography and stage direction. Over the past
15 years, Peggy has choreographed and/or directed over 100 stage productions
and concert works. Peggy, however, has always maintained her love for
the performance of modern dance to the spiritual (the performance style
danced by her first mentor). This propelled her to join the American
Spiritual Ensemble in its second year. Peggy has since this time served
as a solo dancer, stage director, and assistant tour manager for the
group. Peggy is a freelance choreographer/director and is also an instructor
of stage movement for the University of Kentucky Opera Performance Program.
Peggy is a graduate of Purdue University. RETURN
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Kevin Thompson, Bass
"The voice booms, roars, rumbles through his 6'5"
frame and bellows forth when he sings even when he speaks a Basso Profundo"
Washington Post. Mr. Thompson was born in Washington, D.C. and grew
up in Clinton, Maryland. He is an 1997 Alumnus of the Suitland High
School Center of the Performing Arts in Prince George's County and is
a 2002 graduate of The Juilliard School. Mr. Thompson performed leading
operatic roles in Copland's "Tender Land", Ecceles's "Semele",
Joplin's "Treemonisha", Massenet's "Werther", Mozart's
"Don Giovanni" and "Die Zauberflote", Puccini's
"La Boheme" and "Tosca", Verdi's "Rigoletto",
and Weill's "Street Scene". He has been the bass soloist in
such orchestral works as: Dubois's "Seven Last Words of Christ",
Haydn's "The Creation" (Die Schopfung), "Lord Nelson
Mass", Handel's "Messiah", "Mozart Requiem",
Stravinsky's "Les Noces" sung in Russian and "Verdi's
Réquiem". Mr. Thompson has performed at The Kennedy Center,
The Barns of Wolftrap, Carnegie Hall's Weills Recital Hall, Alice Tully
Hall, Pentagon, Library of Congress, and with the United States Naval
Band. He has won numerous awards such as scholarships to The Juilliard,
Aspen Music Festival and the AIM'S in Graz. Awarded at the National
NAACP ACT-SO Competition 2 time Gold Medalist, Rosa Ponselle Competition
Awardee, 1st Place winner of the Paul Robeson Competition in association
with The Washington Opera, National Symphony Competition, International
Don Giovanni Competition in Verona, Italy, and the International Meistersinger
Competition in Austria. He was commissioned by artist Janet Cardiff
last February to sing "Ol' Man River" for an audio wall project
at the Smithsonian Institute, Hirschorn Gallery exhibit on National
Mall in D.C., which opened in August 2005. RETURN
TO TOP
John Wesley Wright, Tenor
Tenor John Wesley Wright is known for his artistic and soulful interpretations
of music from baroque to Broadway. In addition to singing a nationally
televised Christmas Eve concert at the Royal Palace for the Belgian
Royal Family, he has performed in opera houses, concert halls, and festivals
throughout the United States, Europe, and Japan. With a host of opera
and oratorio roles, art songs, spirituals, and cabaret music in his
repertoire, Wright's current season includes performances of Handel's
Messiah with the Dayton Philharmonic and Pennsylvania Sinfonia Orchestras;
Britten's Serenade for Tenor, Horn & Strings at James Madison University
and the University of Georgia; engagements at the Metropolitan Choral
Festival of Detroit; and tours with the internationally acclaimed American
Spiritual Ensemble. Mr. Wright is highlighted in the PBS documentary
film, The Spirituals: Featuring The American Spiritual Ensemble, released
nationally in February '07. Special guest artist for the 2006 Mississippi
Music Teachers Association, Wright is gold medalist and top prizewinner
of the Savannah Music Festival American Traditions Vocal Competition
2000. He has also claimed top prizes from the National Federation of
Music Clubs, Metropolitan Opera National Council, Bel Canto Regional
Artists, Ohio's Vocal Resource Network Art Song Competition, and the
International Schubert Competition in Vienna, Austria. John Wright is
a native of Rome, Georgia, and holds degrees from Maryville College
and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. He is
an active vocal consultant, clinician, and leader of workshops on "Singing
in the African American Tradition" in schools, churches, and colleges.
John served eight years as Artist-in-Residence at the University of
Dayton and now resides in Salisbury, MD where he is Instructor of Voice
at Salisbury University. RETURN
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Amira Hocker Young, Soprano
Soprano/Amira Hocker is a B.M. graduate in vocal performance from
the University of Kentucky. Ms. Hocker has performed in U.S. and throughout
Europe including Austria, Italy, Germany and Spain. Ms. Hocker has been
performing with the American Spiritual Ensemble since its inception.
Ms. Hocker is a regional National Association of Teachers of Singing
contest winner for 3 consecutive years in the adult beginner, intermediate
and post advanced categories. Ms. Hocker performed in the Summer of
1999 in the chorus for La Boheme and Faust with the Cincinnati Opera.
Ms. Hocker was recently named a finalist in the Savannah On-Stage competition
to be held in March. She resides in Sierra Vista, Arizona. RETURN
TO TOP
